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Many slots players are aware that machines are programmed to pay out a certain percentage of money back over the long term. For example, if a slots game offers 92% payback, it will theoretically deliver $0.92 for every $1 wagered. When taken at face value, this is a pretty simple concept to understand. But some players want to know exactly how the game arrives at this number.

The simple explanation is that payout percentages are determined by dividing the total value of winning combinations by the number of combinations possible. Let's illustrate this point with a really simple game:

- There are five reels with 10 stops on each reel. This leads to 100,000 possible results (10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10).

- The only symbol in the game is a star, and there are five stars on each reel. This means that there are 3,125 ways to get five stars across the reels (5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5).

- Every time that five stars lands on the reels, 30 coins are paid out. This means that the total value of the winning combinations is 93,750 (30 x 3,125).

- Dividing the value of winning combinations (93,750) by the total outcomes (100,000), you get a payout percentage of 93.75%.

Once again, this is just a simple example because most slots games are much more complex, with several different symbols and coin values. But you can at least get an idea of how companies go about creating payout percentages before slot machines hit the casino floor.

It's important to note that a payout percentage isn't truly realized until hundreds of thousands of spins, or more. Sometimes you can win big in a game right away, thus far exceeding the stated payback. Other times, you'll start off with a drought and not win much money in the beginning.

Of course this short-term chance element is what makes slots so exciting. After all, who would want to play slots if they were destined to get 93.75% payback following every 100 spins? This would take the fun out of the game because you'd be guaranteed a loss.

So because of the fact that you can win money in the short term, slots are a lot more fun and definitely worth playing when you're feeling lucky!